Outrider1

I've been doing a fair amount of research on power meters the different types and price range is mindboggling. For those of you who utilize a power meter, what type did you go with? I appreciate your input!

rubiksoval

I started with a wired Powertap. Then I got a wired SRM about a decade later. Replaced that with a Powertap G3. Then tried a Power2max. Didn't like that (because of BB30) and sold it pretty quickly. Then got a Powertap C1. That's worked flawlessly for years. Bought another PT G3 on another wheel, and last year bought a Quarq Dfour.

I would buy a Quarq, Power2Max, or even a used SRM if a good price.

Favero Assioma pedals look awesome, but I absolutely abhor the cleat system it uses, so no go on that front. Others without that hangup seem to really like them, though.

So anything that measures both legs. I wouldn't bother with anything that only measures one leg.

chaadster

I’ve had Cycleops/Powertap in the past, but now use Assioma Duo pedals and love the convenience and ease of transferring them between bikes.

Doge

It depends a lot on how many bikes, how much switching of wheels etc. I have bought >5 4 different kinds, but 6 Power Tap hub meters. They will register lower than a pedal power meter. If you like higher numbers use the pedal meters.

tomato coupe

Not necessarily. My G3 hub produces higher numbers than all my other power meters.

Doge

I have five G3s and they all produce lower numbers and very close to each other. You might be out of calibration.
Edit. I think I have five but only find the receipt for 4. Still the price is right.

datlas 

What are your goals?

guachi

I use a 4iiii power meter and it seems to work just fine.

Doge

Really the most important thing. I can't think of anything but fun can be achieved by actually following the numbers on a power meter. I know this is a recreational forum, but they are only useful in rare cases for training, or performing.

rubiksoval

Both my G3s have always read a few watts lower than my other power meters, as they should being further along the drive train.

datlas 

That’s what I was getting at. I know lots of cyclists with PMs and most of them don’t really use them to train, but more for entertainment, ie “I hit 400w going up that hill! Wow!!”

People are free to spend their money as they wish, but IMO if you get a power meter just for fun, that seems silly. It’s a powerful training tool if used for training, of course.

Doge

My point is you should not use them to train.

Doge

You should use them for tuning position and equipment, so from that standpoint - I guess it is training. If the team manager or coach likes to see them for progression - OK.

But they should not be used for racing and should not be used for increasing fitness unless they are somehow a modivator. A HRM is a better tool for that.

rubiksoval

And pretty much everyone else disagrees with that.

asgelle

I don't know about that. I'm using a power meter to monitor volume of training both post hoc and also during a session. I'm not sure a heart rate monitor could do that.

At any rate, it seems ridiculous to think there's only one solution that fits everyone. Now that there are so many coaches doing podcasts, it's interesting to compare the ones who take a rigid, single approach to what athletes should do to the one who think the goal is to maximize performance. These are flexible in their approach, tailoring training to each individual.

biketampa

why is it your opinion that people shouldn’t use a power meter to train? Many many professional cyclists as well as amateurs successfully train using power meters

biketampa

I have a power meter, a HRM, and a coach. Sure, plenty of workouts are based on power but not all. And she doesn’t just blindly look at the power numbers of a workout. She looks at my HR and takes in feedback from me about the workout. Plenty of people train by HR and that’s fine. But a power meter is a useful training tool. There’s a reason so many professional cyclists and coach’s use them for training.

tomato coupe

You don't have show receipts -- we all believe you.

billridesbikes

HR only tells you the rate that blood is getting pumped to the muscles, and it's not the most effective way to train. The muscles are what do the work and drives your bike forward or up hill. Power is a direct measure of the work your muscles are doing. The amount of blood flow can't give you that kind of direct measurement.

HRM have been around since at least the late 70s (maybe earlier?) so we've all used them, but for racing or big events I was always so excited and hyped up at the start of a race the HR was always way way too high, so I stopped wearing it for events because it was useless. The power meter never lies and isn't 'wrong' due to race day excitement or a Krispy-Kreme doughnut.

asgelle

And not even that since you don't know stroke volume.

jaxgtr

Can't buy Powertap, SRAM is not going to sell them anymore....

https://www.velonews.com/gear/tech-w...-power-meters/

tomato coupe

Compared to "upstream" meters, a PowerTap will read lower more often than it reads higher, but not always. If power meters were a little more accurate, PowerTaps would always read lower.

gregf83 

It's difficult to improve what you don't measure. Runners can use a watch to track progress but cyclists need something other than speed on the flats. You don't need to be a slave to the numbers while training but I don't know how else you determine if a particular block of training is effective. For cyclists who don't have a lot of experience properly pacing intensity of intervals a powermeter can be very helpful and better than RPE or HR.

gregf83 

One advantage of SRM over other meters is you can adjust the slope. I have an SRM and a couple of Powertaps and adjust the SRM so that it matches the Powertap. Not a big deal but I like to have them as close as possible.

Doge

On this forum - yes. Cam Wurf, T Finney have it in video. So I can mention them.